Truck



Sept. 3, 1935'. A. H. oELKERs lTRUCK Filed Oct. 2. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Sept. 3, 1935. L A. H. oELKERs 2,013,007

TRUCK y y Fuedoct. 2, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2 Www/1%;

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES TRUCK Alfred H. elkers, Chicago,Ill., asslgnor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof New Jersey Application October 2, 1931, Serial No. 566,473

12 claims. (ci. 10s-194) The present invention relates to railway cartrucks and more in particular to car trucks including equalizers.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel truckconstruction wherein a substantial reduction in the number of wearingparts has been effected, thereby simplifying the construction andreducing the cost of maintenance, repair and replacement.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel truckconstruction having a main frame and equalizers, in which the equalizersare so arranged in relation to the main frame and other parts of theassembly that a far better distribution of the metal resisting stressesand strains may be effected, thus increasing the strength of the truckand its adaptability to hard usage.

The invention comprehends the idea of providing a car truck constructionincluding a main frame having equalizers associated therewith so as toreceive loads therefrom, in which tie means is provided between certainportions of the main framev and extending below the equalizers to be ina position to support the equalizers, should the same fail for anyreason, and to prevent the same from dragging, a, condition which wouldgenerally cause a derailment of the truck.

Still another object within the purview of the inventionis to provideacar truck construction in which the journal boxes thereof are providedwith guide ilanges having, cooperative guiding relation with portions ofa kmain frame and equalizers included in the truckassembly, theequalizers having seating engagement with these journal boxes, while themain frame has wearing engagement therewith:

The invention further includes the idea of providing a journal box forthese trucks of symmetrical construction and provided with guidingflanges adapted to cooperate with the seating portion of the equalizersso as to hold the journal boxes in a definite position. These flangesare further symmetrically constructed for lcooperation with the mainframe and equalizers so that when the boxes of a front wheel and axleassembly have become worn by contact with the .main frame, the same maybe interchanged with the boxes of the rear wheel and axle assembly,which in effect increases the usefulness of the boxes and provides for adouble wear period be fore the same have to be replaced or the wearingsurfaces restored.

Still lanother object of the present invention is to provide a novel cartruckv including the above identiiled features in a constructioncomprising equalizers upon which a main frame is resiliently supported,a bolster being resiliently supported and hung between transom portionsof the main frame.

p With these and various other objects in view, the invention mayconsist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as willbe more fully described and particularly pointed out in thespecification. drawings and claims apdisclosed in Figure 1 of thedrawings;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary detached end View 20 -of one of the wheel andaxle assemblies of the car truck construction shown in Figure l of thedrawings and disclosing the journal box and members of the truck frameassociated therewith in verticalcross section, and

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the equalizer of thetruck construction and taken in a piane represented by line 4-4 ofFigure 1 of the drawings.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, 30 an embodiment of thepresent invention is disclosed as comprising spaced wheel and axleassemblies 2 and 4 having journal boxes 6 and 8 mounted upon the outerends of the axles II) and I2 thereof, respectively.` An equalizer I4com- 35 prising a lower elongated tension member I6 is provided withupwardly extending arms I8 and having jaw or seating portions 22 and 24seating with the journal boxes 6 and B at each side of the wheel andaxle assemblies 2 and 4. Each 40 of the equalizers I4 is provided withspring seats v 26 and 28 positioned adjacent the upwardly extendingframe portions I8 and 20, the same being adapted to support the lowerend of ycoil springs 36 and 32 associated with a main frame 38.

This main frame 38 comprises elongated side frame members 40 havingdepending pedestals 42 and 44 adjacent `its ends adapted to havecooperative relation with the'journal boxes Vl and 8 of the wheel andaxle assemblies. `2 and 4, re- 50 spectively. The elongated sideportions 40 ofthe main frame 38 are connected together by the portionsand 46 of a transom between which is disposed a bolster 46. Each of themembers 44 and 46 is provided with an opening 5U adjacent 55 each endthereof through which extends a hang- 'er link 82 provided withtrunnions 84 received between the equalizers i4 and upon which are theleaf spring assemblies 82 for resiliently supporting the bolster 48 andfor transferring the loads from the center bearing 84 thereof to themain frame. and thence by way of the'coil springs and 32 to theequalizers i4. and the wheel and. axle assemblies 2 and 4. v

Each of the journal boxes 8 and 8 of the present construction are formedwith spaced flanges l86 and 68 on the side thereof, one pair of flangescooperating with the guidev portion 10 of the pedestal of the mainframe, for guiding the pedestals in their movement relative to thejournal boxes, while another pair of flanges 68 on'the other side of thejournal box has cooperative relation for receiving the vertical portionl2 oi' the equalizers. The journal boxes are of symmetrical constructionand the flanges 68 and 88 on the sides thereof are of like constructionfor a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set out. l

The journal boxes 6 and 8 are further provided with the spaced flanges14 and 16 on the upper or top surface thereof so as to provide adepressed portion 18 adapted lto receive the seating portions 22 and 24of the equalizers I4 and to closely fit the same so that the journalboxes are held in substantially a4 definite position.

As hereinbefore indicated, the flanges 66 and 68 on the sides of thejournal boxes are of sim- `ilar construction, for effecting a ,definiteresult.

It will be seen from the truck arrangement that substantially no wearoccurs between the vertical portions 12 of the equalizers and the sideof the ing the opposite side of the journal boxes to the wearexperienced between the same and the pedestals of the main frame,thereby subjecting these boxes to two wear periods instead of one. Whenthe same have become worn on both sides, iir-is then necessary to eitherreplace the same or have the wear surfaces restored.

The invention further comprehends a novel arrangement Ior association ofthe equalizers "-I4 )with the main frame 38 whereby the possibility I'ofderailment of the truck is practically eliminated. 'I'he equalizers I4are immediately below or beneath the elongated portions 40 of the maintruck frame 38 and would be supported if the same failed for any reasonby a tie rod beneath the same and extending between and connected to thelower end of the pedestals 42 and 44, as by means of bolts 82, or thelike. This tie member 80 is disposed beneath the upper web 84 of theelongated portion I6 of the equalizer and between the side flanges orwebs 88 and 88. If an equalizer in the truck breaks, the same willimmediately sag, thereby permitting the portion I 8 supporting thespring coils 80 and 32 to come down until the main frame of the truckrests on the top of the journal box. The tie member 80 is so located inrelation to the equalizer i4 that if the broken equalizer sags beyondthe point where it has transferred the load of the main frame di' rectlyto the journal box, then the tie bar 80 will support the brokenequalizer a suillcient height above the railroad track ties to preventdragging of the equalizer.

-It is to be understood that I do not wish toy be limited by the exactembodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation, as various/and other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a railway car truck, the combination of 'spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes, said journal boxes beingprovided with similar guide portions on each side therepf, equalizersbetween said assemblies and having seating engagement with said journalboxes and engagement with one of said guide portions on each journalbox, a main frame supported by said equalizers and engaging the oppositeguide portion of each journal box, and a bolster supported by said mainframe.

2. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes, said boxes having spacedvertically disposed flanges on opposite sides thereof providing aguidingjaws, equalizers seated on said boxes and having engagement with jaws onone side thereof, and a main frame supported by said equalizers andhaving guiding relation with the jaws on the other side of said journalboxes.

3. In a railway car truck, the combination of -spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes, each ofv said boxes havingspaced flanges disposed on the top and opposite sides thereof providinga top depressed seating portion and side guiding jaws, equalizers seatedon said depressed portions and having engagement with the jaws on oneside of said journal boxes, and a main frame suppored by said equalizersand having guiding relation with jaws on the other side of said journalboxes. f

4. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes having spaced flanges providingjaws on opposite sides thereof, equalizers seated on said boxes, a mainframe resiliently supported on said equalizers, said main frame andequalizers being provided with jaws having engagement with said jaws onopposite sides of said journal boxes. and a bolster hung from said mainframe.

5. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes having spaced flanges providingjaws on opposite sides thereof, equalizers seated on said journal boxes,a main frame, coil springs between said main frame and equalizers forsup: port of said frame on said equalizers, said main frame andequalizers having engagement with said guide jaws on opposite sides ofsaid journal boxes, a bolster associated with said main frame, a springplank hung from said main frame, and leaf spring assemblies between saidplank and bolster for resiliently supporting the same.

6. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced front and rearwheel and axle assemblies having journal boxes, said journal boxeshaving anges providing guiding jaws, equalizers seating upon saidjournal boxes and engaging one oi' said jaws ,ofl each of said journalboxes, and a main frame supported on said equalizers and having guidingand wearing relation with the other of the jaws of each of said journalboxes, said journal boxes being symmetrical in construction forinterchangeability between said front and rear wheel and axle assembliesupon wear.

7. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes, equalizers extending betweensaid assemblies, said equalizers being seated on said journal boxes andengaging jaws on the inside thereof, and a main frame supported by saidequalizers and being provided with pedestals having guiding relationwith the outer face only of said boxes, said outer face having jawssymmetrically disposed in respect to said iirst-named jaws whereby saidboxes are interchangeable between said assemblies.

8. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes, equalizers extending betweensaid assemblies and being seated on said journal boxes, said equalizerscomprising members formed with a top web, a main frame supported by saidequalizers and having pedestals having guiding relation with saidjournal boxes, and tie members extending between said pedestals belowthe web of said equalizers for support thereof in case of failure.

9. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies provided with journal boxes, equalizers extending betweensaid assemblies and being seated on said journal boxes, said equalizerscomprising members formed with a top web, a main frame supported by saidequalizers and normally in spaced relation to said boxes, said mainframe having pedestals having guiding relation with the outer face onlyof said boxes, and tie members extending in unsupported relation betweenand being connected to said pedestals below the web oi said equalizer-sfor supsaid assemblies and being connected to adjacent pedestals, saidtie bars being disposed to support said equalizers upon failure anddownward displacement thereoi and said truck frame.

1l. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies having journal boxes, said journal boxes having guiding jaws,relatively movable truck members extending between said assemblies, oneof said members engaging certain of the jaws of said journal boxes, andthe other of said members having guiding and wearing relation with otherof said jaws, said journal boxes being symmetrical in construction forinterchangeability between said assemblies upon wear.

l2. In a railway car truck, the combination of spaced wheel and axleassemblies having journal boxes, said journal boxes having substantiallyvertically disposed jaws on each side thereof, and relatively movabletruck members extending be- `tween said assemblies, one of said membersengaging jaws on one side of each of said journal boxes, and the otherof said members having guiding and wearing relation with jaws on theother side of each of said journal boxes, said jaws on said journalboxes being symmetrical in construction whereby said journal boxes areinterchangeable between said assemblies upon wear.

ALFRED H. OELKERS.

